Matthew 4:3 “The Tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, order these stones to become bread.”

Many are familiar with this verse from Jesus’ long temptation in the desert.  However, what is it really saying?   Well, Satan is tempting Jesus with a base need.  However, humans also have a base needs.  We need food.  We need shelter.  We need clothing.    But who will provide it?   Will it be God, or will it be the other one?  Note that God is here when we are broken and down, but so is Satan.  In fact, here are some verses about Satan wanting to be God, which would imply he also wants to supply man’s needs:

2 Corinthians 11:14 “And no marvel, for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Isaiah 14:14 “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”

But the tempter’s plan is for people to lower their moral standards to satisfy base needs.   This leads to an inferior existence, not the healthy lifestyle God desires for us.

Matthew 17:1-13

After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ² There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. ³ Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.

⁴ Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” ⁸ When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

¹⁰ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus replied, “To be sure, Elijah comes and will restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. In the same way the Son of Man is going to suffer at their hands.” ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was talking to them about John the Baptist.

Let’s look at one part of the story:

Matthew 17:5

⁵ While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Whom is God talking about?  Yes, it is Jesus, but actually, it’s also you the follower.  God wants to be pleased with you like he was with Jesus.

But how can God be pleased with us?  It’s possible by us clearing the rocks and weeds from our garden (Parable of the Sower) by praying, reading God’s word, being forgiving, being charitable, among other things.

Luke 19:1-10

Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Some people have the idea of a non-threatening, sterile sinner.  However, that’s often not the case.  In fact, people are often disgusted and/or afraid of real sinners.  I mean, imagine the reaction of most people to some of the demonically possessed people or lepers (people afflicted with a massive skin disease) that Jesus healed.

Anyway, though, Jesus came to heal all the lost, not just the lost who wouldn’t go thru extra-security at an airport.

Well, in the case of Zacchaeus, he wasn’t someone to be scared of but rather was a person who would be considered a disgusting thief and liar, but he is not a person beyond a change of heart.  We see this change of heart and it’s very moving.

Also, along with being moving, in other verses, Jesus compares what seems to be the greater desire of the openly bad to change, versus what is seen in the secretly bad (self-righteous).

Some people want to say the Old Testament is all about wrath and the New Testament is about this Jesus who is all forgiving and kind, but is that really the truth?   Well, not really.   I mean, if that was the truth, then why even read the Old Testament and have any respect for it?   Well, that’s what some people do.   Also, there could be the case where some people downplay the New Testament because it doesn’t fit with their really strong views of justice.

But the Bible is absolutely no different in the Old than in the New.   Jesus simply is another representation of the God in the Old Testament.  Here is the proof:

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Here is another thought.  Did God change from the Old to the New?   Well, actually the New Testament Jesus is full of a lot of wrath.  Many verses in the gospels are not about roses and sunshine.

Matthew 24:36-41

 Jonah 3:10

¹⁰ When God saw their actions—that they turned from their evil way of living.^[o]—God relented concerning the judgment^[p] he had threatened them with^[q] and did not destroy them.^[r]

 

Hosea 6:6

⁶ For I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.

• Jeremiah 30:17
• I will restore your health, I will heal your wounds.

We see that Jesus is a perfect representation of the God in the Bible.  He is wrathful, yet kind.  It depends on a condition.  The condition is whether or not the person is remorseful for what they did and wanting to change.

Isn’t that what we saw in the last post with the tax collector?

Luke 18:9-14

• To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

It’s human nature to get off on being better than other people.  However, the abundant life Jesus spoke about is – not about being human.  It’s about transcending being human.   Anyway, why might this snooty attitude of being better than others be wrong?  Well, for one thing, the proud person isn’t righteous.  In fact, the pride displayed is very unloving.  I mean, wasn’t it pride that led to Satan’s downfall as an angel?  Well, we don’t know, but that’s the popular story.   Anyway, while people should be focused on justice and God is about justice, we can’t forget about mercy and all that stuff also.  That’s a recurring theme of the Old and New Testament.

Matthew 13:7

⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

In the traditional way, you must constantly get weeds out every day or seemingly everyday to keep your garden in good shape.  Likewise, you must pray, spend alone time with God, read scripture etc. everyday to remain a strong Christian.

Now, this is hard work but we can’t allow the weeds (or thorns) of other loyalties to get in our way.  In the end, who do we really love?   This always the question as God has often referred to his followers as a bride.

Jeremiah 31:4-6: “Israel, my bride, I will rebuild you. You will be a country again”.

Matthew 5:14-16

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Some people have a really strong glow to them.  They just seem very happy and nice and it’s very attractive and they just happen to be Christians.  Is that a coincidence?

Matthew 5:13

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

Salt main properties are to preserve stuff and to enhance taste.   Jesus was saying that Christians preserve the goodness in a world that is generally wicked.  In that case, it’s important for Christians to keep up the fight and keep bearing fruit.   Now, if they can’t do that then they are useless (useless salt) and better off thrown away.

Now, in my own experience, I think some Christians I know are certainly saving people that, if they (the Christians) weren’t around, would certainly be in a bad situation.  In that case, these Christians are certainly, the Salt of the Earth.

Proverbs 14:27: “The fear of the Lord is the fountain of life”

Is being fearful cowardly, though?   For instance, I’m afraid to shoplift, but I have thought about it.  I mean, there’s a chance of getting away with it, even with cameras.   Well, I get hungry sometimes and I have so many bills that eats up everything I have.

Anyway, though, I am afraid because the consequences are severe.  Once you got that on your record, it gets way tougher to get jobs, at least any with background checks.  My current one doesn’t demand them, but I don’t really know about future employment.

Now, of course, God has a nurturing side of forgiveness and understanding, but also one of justice.    For instance, the justice side is forced to withdraw blessings and protection from those who disfellowship from him.

Deuteronomy 28:15-68

¹⁵ However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all his commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:

Now, I don’t like to steal because it’s just not my thing, but in desperation I might, but then I think again about the consequences from law enforcement.  It’s enough to stop me.

Matthew 13:7

⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.

A daily chore of farmers in Jesus’ day was getting weeds out.   It was hard work, but if weeds choked up the garden, then the plants die.

Likewise, the weeds in The Parable of the Sower are simply worldliness.  It’s money and the sinful culture, stuff like that.  It’s stuff that takes your mind and heart off God.